CENTRAL EUROPE The architect who designed it


never saw it completed, but since 1904 when the last brick was laid, the Parliament Building in Budapest that rises like a massive Gothic cathedral bristling with spires beside the Danube has been the iconic image of the city, one of the most instantly recognized and frequently photographed buildings in the world. But the details you don’t get from a photograph – the hundreds of statues of Hungarian kings and heroes that adorn the walls, the allegorical sculptures, the stained glass, the gold ornaments, and the profusion of mosaics and frescoes – like most of the man-made wonders in this city that rivals Paris for its architectural beauty, have to be seen up close to be believed.


Even as a kid (or rather, child prodigy), Mozart considered his hometown a backwater burg


not big enough for his talents, and when he finally escaped picturesque Salzburg, with its sumptuous baroque castles and gardens, rambling cobblestone streets and plazas lined with cozy shops, cafés, and half-timbered houses, churches with tall delicate spires, stunning views of alpine mountains around every corner, and a lofty storybook fortress soaring beside a mirrorlike lazy river, he never looked back. You, on the other hand, may never want to leave.


The royal family of Bavaria built Schloss Nymphenburg, the largest palace in Germany,


as their summer retreat outside of Munich. It was immense – the stables alone dwarfed most aristocratic residences of the time – the main building was a half mile from end to end, filled with a labyrinth of chambers, including a hall of mirrors – and the grounds included 450 acres of sculpted gardens, royal baths, lakes, terraces, and woodlands, a hunting lodge and a world-famous porcelain factory. You can actually lose yourself in the vastness of the place – and of course in the existential questions of “living large.”


Call your travel agent or Tauck at 800-468-2825


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